Targeted marketing and purchase behavior monitoring system

ABSTRACT

A system for presenting customized special offers to customers, the special offers including targeted offers to a customer selected from a plurality of customers, and for collecting purchasing behavior information concerning the customers, the system comprising a computer including a database containing customer account information providing information specific to a particular customer account; the at computer also including a database containing special offers including a targeted offer which is to be made to selected customer accounts on the basis of targeted offer targeting parameters; a plurality of customer cards, each customer card having machine readable card information indicating at least identification of the card with a particular customer account; a customer interface in communication with the computer to transfer data therebetween; the customer interface having a card reader for reading machine readable card information from the customer card; the computer including means for generating a customized customer offer list available to that particular customer account which includes the special offer; an offer communicator for communicating the customer offer list to the customer for which it is generated; a check-out at which the customer presents purchased item information indicating items being purchased by the customer; the check-out including a card reader for reading the customer card; the computer including means for sending information from the customized customer offer list to the check-out; the computer further including means for collecting customer purchase information which is indicative of items being purchased by the customer via the check-out; the computer still further including means for editing the customer account information to reflect items purchased by the customer.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention relates to point of sale marketing and purchasebehavior monitoring.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] It is known to provide coupons to consumers in order to attemptto influence their purchasing behavior, for example to entice them totry a new product. Such coupons are typically made available to thegeneral public by mailing coupon packages to large numbers of people, orby including coupons in newspapers.

[0003] A problem with using such coupons is that there is a possibilityof fraudulent use. It may be possible for a retailer to receive cash forcoupons even though they did not sell a manufacturer's product. It maybe possible for a consumer to exceed discount limitations per consumerby shopping at multiple different stores. A cashier may not be able tocarefully follow the rules associated with a coupon, such as rulesrequiring a purchaser to buy a certain quantity of the product to beeligible for the discount.

[0004] Another problem with using coupons or price discounting is aninability to target a specific segment of the market. Instead, thecoupons or discounts are provided to a large number of consumers, manyof whom have no interest whatsoever in the particular type of product.For example, consumers who do not own pets would have no interest in petfood coupons or discounts; consumers who do not have a baby would not beinterested in coupons or discounts for baby food or items; vegetarianswould not be interested in coupons or discounts for meat, etc. Thus, agreat quantity of advertising is wasted on people who have no interestin the items being offered.

[0005] Another disadvantage of the current coupon system is the greatexpense in having a clearing house through which coupons are physicallydelivered for redemption. Associated therewith are handling costsincurred by the national store, clearinghouse, and manufacturer. Thesecosts are typically borne by the manufacturer or other distributor ofthe product.

[0006] Further, there are circumstances in which a retailer ormanufacturer would only be interested in offering coupons to certainconsumers, such as to reward repeat purchasers or quantity purchasers,or to entice consumers of competitors products to switch brands. Theretailer or manufacturer may have a limited budget and may only beinterested in providing coupons to consumers who purchase goods of acertain type, or in a certain quantity. This is difficult or impossibleusing most or all prior systems.

[0007] It is also known to generate and sell mailing lists of consumerswho have certain tendencies or who purchase certain items. People whopurchase items by mail order quickly find themselves receiving catalogsand information from other retailers who sell similar or relatedproducts. Mailing lists are valuable because they provide usefulinformation about consumers, and permit targeted marketing. It would bevaluable to be able to collect information about buying habits ofparticular individuals other than just those who purchase through mailorder services.

[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 4,882,675 (incorporated by reference) discloses apaperless coupon system. Consumers each have a card having thereon a UPCcode. The consumers access a terminal and make selections from possibleavailable coupons prior to beginning shopping. A shopping list ofcoupons is then presented to the consumer. There is a link to check-outstations, and discounts selected by the consumer are subtracted from theconsumers total bill. Optionally, data regarding the consumers purchasesis captured.

[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 4,723,212 (incorporated by reference) discloses asystem for printing coupons when a consumer purchases a competitor'sproduct.

[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 4,674,041 (incorporated by reference) andWO85/01373 disclose systems including terminals which receive magneticcards, and which dispense coupons available to a particular consumer.The terminals communicate with a host computer, and the system providesfor overall limits on a discount throughout the entire terminal systemso that a manufacturer can put a maximum cap or limit on a promotion forthe entire terminal system. Coupons per store can be limited as well.

[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 4,412,631 (incorporated by reference) disclosesdispensed cards which are used for imprinting onto coupons. This reducesthe opportunity for fraud.

[0012] U.S. Pat. No. 4,124,109 discloses a coupon dispenser whichreceives a card having a magnetic strip, which card includes indiciaindicating the last time it was used.

[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 3,959,624 (incorporated by reference) disclosescoupons having UPC bar codes thereon. The UPCs on coupons presented atcheck-out time must match UPCs for products purchased before discountswill be applied to a consumer's bill. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,554,446(incorporated by reference) discloses scannable coupons.

[0014] A system including a supervisory computer communicating withstore level computers, and providing for targeted special offers wasinstalled for experimental testing in a joint development arrangement inJune, 1994.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below withreference to the accompanying drawings, which are briefly describedbelow.

[0016]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system embodying the invention.

[0017] FIGS. 2-3 are flow charts illustrating store level special offer(promotional) staging.

[0018]FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a promotion set up at acheck-out register.

[0019]FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating identifying customersqualifying for special offers.

[0020] FIGS. 6-10 are flow charts illustrating activity at a kiosk whicha customer uses to obtain a list of special offers.

[0021]FIG. 11 is a flow chart illustrating processing that takes placeat a store level computer when a check-out sends a message to the storelevel computer.

[0022] FIGS. 12-14 are flow charts illustrating transactional analysisthat takes place at a check-out (point of sale terminal).

[0023] FIGS. 15-17 are flow charts illustrating updating of databasestatistics.

[0024]FIG. 18 is a flow chart illustrating file transfer to a homestore.

[0025]FIG. 19 is a flow chart illustrating remote transaction analysis.

[0026]FIG. 20 is a flow chart illustrating deletion of expired specialoffers.

[0027]FIG. 21 is a block diagram illustrating hardware components andcabling for a store employing NCR (trademark) check-outs.

[0028]FIG. 22 is a block diagram illustrating hardware components andcabling for a store employing IBM (trademark) check-outs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0029] This disclosure of the invention is submitted in furtherance ofthe constitutional purposes of the U.S. Patent Laws “to promote theprogress of science and useful arts” (Article 1, Section 8).

[0030] The invention provides a paperless coupon system which tracksconsumer purchasing behavior. The system presents special offers(promotions) to customers. The special offers include customizedtargeted offers for specific customers. The invention allowsmanufacturers to select which consumers obtain discounts, and how big ofa discount.

[0031]FIG. 1 shows a system 10 embodying the invention. The system 10includes a plurality of store level computers or in store processors 12.One store level computer 12 is included in each of various stores,shops, or retail outlets 14. As all the stores 14 include equipment thatoperates in substantially a similar manner, only one store 14 will bedescribed.

[0032] Each computer 12 includes a database containing customer accountinformation, including information regarding purchases made byindividual customers. Each computer 12 further includes a database ofspecial offers including customized targeted offers to be made toselected customer accounts on the basis of targeted offer targetingparameters. While various other types of computers can be employed, inthe illustrated embodiment the computer 12 is a UNIX machine.

[0033] The system 10 further includes a supervisory computer 16networked to the store level computers 12 via a wide area network 18.Any appropriate networking technique can be used, such as satellitecommunication between the supervisory computer 16 and one or more of thestore level computers 12, or TCP/IP communication.

[0034] The supervisory computer is used to perform special offermaintenance, category management, network administration, systemadministration, and is optionally used for software distribution. Thestore level computers 12 can comprise computers for one chain orfranchise or stores 14, or can comprise computers for several chains orstores. This will become more clear upon review of the followingdescription.

[0035] Optionally, regional computers 20 are interposed between thesupervisory computer 16 and the store level computers 12 to assist indata storage, analysis and targeted marketing. A regional computer 20would be connected to several store level computers 12 of one or morechains in a certain geographic area. Executives from a head office of achain of stores can connect to the regional computer (e.g., via adial-up or TCP/IP connection) and obtain reports relating to their chainof stores, or relating to individual stores in their chain.

[0036] The supervisory computer 16 periodically downloads special offersto the store level computers. More particularly, the administrators ofthe supervisory computer 16 communicate with various manufacturers, anddetermine what targeting parameters the manufacturers want to use inmaking special offers. The manufacturers may wish to make special offersto all customers (broadcast special offers), or only to customers whomeet certain criteria (targeted offers). For example, the manufacturermay wish to offer discounts of varying degrees to customers who have notsettled on a brand and frequently switch brands. The amount of discountmay vary depending on the quantity of that category of product that thecustomer purchases. Similarly, a manufacturer may wish of offerdiscounts of varying degrees to loyal customers who mostly purchase themanufacturer's products, to reward loyal customers. Or a manufacturertrying to gain market share may only wish to provide discounts to loyalcustomers of a competitor, or may decide to offer higher discounts toloyal customers of a competitor than to switchers.

[0037] Thus, the targeting parameters may include whether the customeris a switcher (e.g., a customer who purchases a certain brand of productsometimes, and other brands of the same category of product othertimes). A switcher may be defined as a customer who purchases a certainbrand of product a certain percentage of the time, such as 40% of thetime. The targeting parameters may include whether the customer is aloyal (e.g., a customer who purchases a certain brand of product most ofthe time, and other brands of the same category of product other times).A loyal customer may be defined as a customer who purchases a certainbrand of product a certain percentage of the time, such as 80% of thetime. The targeting parameters may include quantity parameters. Forexample, heavy, moderate, light, or never quantities parameters may beestablished.

[0038] The system 10 further includes a plurality of cards 22. Each cardhas thereon machine readable information for associating the card withparticular customer and customer account, and with a particular store inthe chain. In the illustrated embodiment, the card 22 has thereon a UPCcode 24. The UPC code identifies the customer and identifies thecustomer's home store. Every customer has a home store where they set uptheir account, and where some of their records relating to theirpurchase behavior are kept. In alternative embodiments, the machinereadable information of the card 22 is contained in a magnetic strip, orthe card 22 is a smart card. Any other suitable means of storinginformation in a card can be employed. Similarly, any other means ofidentifying a customer can be employed instead of the cards and the cardreaders described below (e.g., passwords, fingerprint scans, retinalscans, etc. are employed in alternative embodiments).

[0039] At least one kiosk 26 is placed in each store 14. The kiosk 26 isa booth or housing. Preferably, at least one kiosk 26 is located nearthe entrance of the store 14. One or more additional kiosks can belocated in other parts of the store frequented by customers. The system10 further comprises a customer interface 28 housed in each kiosk 26 andin communication with the store level computer 12 associated with thestore in which the kiosk 26 is located. In the illustrated embodiment,the customer interface comprises a card reader 28 including means forreading the machine readable information on the card, for sendinginformation from the card to the store level computer 12 of the storewhere the kiosk is located. In the illustrated embodiment, the customerinterface comprises a dumb terminal 30 connecting the card reader 28 tothe store level computer 12. Other customer interfaces can be employed,such as interactive terminals, touch screen interfaces, etc.

[0040] The kiosk 26 also houses an offer communicator (offercommunicator means) 32 for communicating respective individualized listsof special offers to customers who access the customer interface. Whilevarious offer communicators could be employed, in the illustratedembodiment the offer communicator comprises a printer. The printer 32 ispreferably a high speed printer, such as a thermal printer, so as toenable quick processing of customers at the kiosk 26 to keep lines atthe kiosk 26 down to a minimum. In one embodiment, the printer 32 printsat least 500 lines per minute. More particularly, the printer 32 is athermal strip printer which prints 600 lines per minute. Other highspeed printers can be employed.

[0041] The kiosks 26 can also be used by customers to check prices ofproducts. For example, some state laws require that bar code readers bedistributed throughout a store so that customers can scan bar codes onproducts to check prices. The kiosks 26 are capable of being used forthis purpose.

[0042] The system 10 further comprises one or more check-outs orpoint-of-sale terminals 34 in each store. These are spaced apart fromthe kiosks 26, which are preferably located in a different area of thestore. The check-outs 34 in a store are in communication with the storelevel computer 12 associated with the same store. The check-outs 34include readers which read the cards 22 in addition to products. Moreparticularly, in the illustrated embodiment, the check-outs 34 includebar code readers which read UPC codes on the products, as well as UPCcodes 24 on the cards 22.

[0043] In operation, a customer sets up an account with a store andreceives one of the cards 22. Then, whenever the customer goes shopping,he or she goes to one of the kiosks before beginning shopping andpresents the card 22 to the customer interface 28. The store levelcomputer 12 includes means for accessing information about the specialoffers available to the customer associated with the card, and generatesa customized list of special offers available to that particularcustomer. More particularly, the computer 12 determines what specialoffers are available to this customer, and sends a list of specialoffers to the offer communicator 32. The customer then has a shoppinglist of special offers to use while shopping. The customer does notengage in any selection process, but instead is quickly processed at thekiosk. The customer then has a limited time, e.g. 3 hours, to takeadvantage of the special offers before they expire.

[0044] The first few times the customer uses the card 22, the computer12 will have little information about the customer's buying habits.Therefore, the special offers available to that customer may not containmany targeted special offers. To keep the customer interested in usingthe card, while purchasing behavior information is being obtained, thecustomer will be given broadcast special offers, which are specialoffers available to everyone (as opposed to targeted special offers). Inaddition, the customer may be entitled to a frequent shopper plan(similar to frequent flyer plans) or to a lottery if he or she uses thecard 22. The frequent shopper plan awards points based on amount of useof the card 22 or based on amounts spent in the store. A lottery numbercan be printed on the shopping list by the printer 32, for latercomparison by the shopper with a list of randomly selected winners, orthe shopping list can include an indication as to whether or not thecustomer is a winner. The prizes for the winner of the lottery caninclude bonus frequent shopper points, product discounts, cash awards,etc.

[0045] In one embodiment, the total number of listed special offers(including both broadcast special offers and targeted special offers) isthe same for each customer. A predetermined number of special offers(“slots”) thus appears on a customer's shopping list, and thepredetermined number is the same for each customer. In one embodiment,the predetermined number of special offers are the highest value specialoffers available to the particular customer (e.g., highest valuecalculated on the basis of percentage reduction in price). The highestvalue special offers will typically be targeted special offers, and theremaining of the predetermined number will be filled using broadcastspecial offers. However, it is possible that some broadcast specialoffers will be more valuable than targeted special offers, and it maythus be possible for the predetermined number to exclude a targetedspecial offer but include a broadcast special offer. It is also possiblefor a certain number of “slots” to be reserved for offers from specificpromotion sources; e.g., the supervisory computer 16, the manager of thein-store computer 14, the chain management of the in-store computer 14,or the primary grocery wholesaler to the store. In one embodiment, 50%of the “slots” are reserved for offers received from the supervisorycomputer 16 and 50% of the slots are reserved for offers received fromthe primary wholesaler to the store.

[0046] After the customer finishes shopping, the customer presents hisor her card 22 to the check-out 34, where the card 22 is scanned beforeor while purchases are rung up. The system 10 includes means forassociating a purchased product with a customer account if one of thecards 22 is scanned by the bar code reader 36 in sequence with scanningof products. More particularly, a list of all products for which specialoffers exist for at least one customer is downloaded from the storelevel computer to the check-out 34 at appropriate times, after specialoffer programs are initiated. The check-out 34 then has a list of allproducts for which discounts may be available to certain customers. If acustomer purchases a product which is included in this list, thecheck-out 34 communicates with the store level computer 12 to determineif a special offer is available to the particular customer whose card 22was scanned by the check-out 34 in sequence with the products, and todetermine the value of the special offer for this customer. Thecheck-out 34 applies any special offers available to that customer tothe customer's total if the customer purchased products for whichspecial offers were available to the customer. In one embodiment, if aproduct that is currently on promotion to at least one customer isscanned at the check-out 34 before the customer's card 22 is scanned,the check-out register 34 communicates the purchase to the store levelcomputer 12 but does not necessarily wait for a response from the storelevel computer 12. If or when the customer card 22 is finally scanned atthe check-out register 34 as part of the shopping trip, the check-out 34communicates the card number of the customer card 22 to the store levelcomputer 12. The store level computer 12 then communicates to thecheck-out register 34 each discount that the consumer qualified forbecause of the product purchases made in this shopping trip prior to thescan of the customer card 22. Subsequent discounts are then received bythe check-out 34 immediately following the scan of a qualifying product,as previously presented.

[0047] Special offers that were accepted by the customer, and that arerestricted to a certain quantity of product, will not be available tothe customer the next time the customer accesses the kiosk 26 if thequantity limit has been reached. Thus, double couponing (where acustomer uses the same coupon in different stores to avoid quantitylimits) is avoided. The check-out sends to the computer 12 informationregarding all purchases made by the customer.

[0048] Optionally, members of a household could be treated as a singlecustomer, so that they can take advantage of combined purchasing power.The members of the household would then all have cards associating themwith the same customer account in the computer 12. The computer 12identifies which customers should be treated as a household, such as iftwo customers have the same address. Thus, the two customers that shouldbelong to the same household can optionally be given the option of beingtreated as a household. Members of a same household may opt out of beingtreated as a single household. For example, college students living athome may not be interested in targeted special offers that are made tothe rest of the household. If the household has a baby, the collegestudents may not be interested in obtaining targeted special offersrelating to baby food or supplies.

[0049] The system 10 maintains and may communicate to each customer whouses a card 22 a running total of savings realized by that customersince the customer started using the card 22. In one embodiment, therunning total of savings is communicated to the customer by thecheck-out 34, such as by printing the running total on the customer'sreceipt.

[0050] When targeted special offers are set up, the administrators ofthe supervisory computer 16 communicate with manufacturers, anddetermine who the manufacturers want to target. The manufacturersprovide targeted offer targeting parameters in the form of criteria acustomer must meet in order to be eligible for a particular targetedoffer. Before the targeted special offers go into effect, a stagingoperation takes place during which either the supervisory computer 16 orthe store level computer 12 determines which customers in the customeraccount databases meet the criteria. Each special offer is typicallyset, using the supervisory computer 16, to automatically expire on acertain date, after which date the special offer will no longer beprinted on the shopping lists.

[0051] The system 10 further comprises means for defining, using thesupervisory computer, categories of products, and means for providingcategory exclusivity, wherein the system only permits special offers forone brand of product per category. Each product falls within a category,such as meat, beverages, baby supplies, etc. When targeted specialoffers are set up, the supervisory computer 16 will not allow a targetedspecial offer to be set up for a store if there is a special offer for acompetitor's product of the same category available during the same timeframe at the same store.

[0052] If a customer uses his or her card 22 at a customer interface 28in a store other than their home store, the store level computer 12communicates with the customer's home store and the customer's accountis accessed even though the customer is not in his or her home store.Thus, the customer can obtain a list of special offers even whenshopping at another store of a chain of stores. In one embodiment, thecustomer can obtain a list of special offers even when presenting a card22 from a competitor's chain of stores. The competitor's chain of storeswill automatically set up a new account and at least provide broadcastspecial offers to the customer while purchase behavior information iscollected in a store level computer of the competitor's chain of stores.

[0053] The system further comprises means for preventing a special offerfrom being communicated by the offer communicator 32 if the productassociated with the special offer is out of stock. More particularly, ifa store manager learns that a certain product is out of stock or low ofstock, he or she can access the store level computer 12 and prevent theoffer communicators 32 in his or her store from printing any morespecial offers for the out of stock product.

[0054] The system 10 further comprises means for automaticallyincreasing the value of a special offer available to a customer for aproduct if the customer previously did not purchase that product afterone of the offer communicators communicated a discount for that productto the customer, and means for communicating the increased value specialoffer to the customer when the customer subsequently presents thecustomer's card to one of the customer interfaces. A manufacturer maywish to increase a targeted special offer available to a customer if thecustomer did not purchase a product for which a targeted special offerwas available. For example, if the value of the targeted special offeris increased, a loyal customer may be enticed to try a different brand.When the targeted special offer is set up, using the supervisorycomputer 16, the targeted special offer is selected to automaticallyincrease if not accepted by customers meeting certain parameters.

[0055] The supervisor computer 16 further comprises means for generatinga report of the effectiveness of special offers (including targetedspecial offers) in causing customers to purchase products. For example,a manufacturer may want to know whether a targeted special offerincreased their sales. Because the store level computers maintainrecords of purchase behavior, the supervisory computer 16 is capable ofprinting out reports of whether targeted special offers were accepted,and with what amount of success. NOTE: Records of purchase behavior maybe maintained at the customer's home store system 14, at a regionalcomputer system 20, at the supervisory computer 16, or at anycombination of these computer locations. The “closest” record systemwill always be accessed by the system 10, as required.

[0056] The system 10 also provides for the possibility of presentingspecial offers based on repurchase cycles. If a customer just bought aproduct, a targeted special offer can be presented to that customer at atime when it is expected that the customer would run out of the productand would need to purchase more of the product.

[0057] The system 10 provides many advantages. The likelihood of specialoffers being accepted is higher than if paper coupons are used. There isno need to select, clip, and carry coupons. The problem of coupon fraudis reduced. Control over timing of special offers is increased.Manufacturers can be provided with category exclusivity. The possibilityof double couponing is reduced. The distribution of special offerswithin a store is capable of being limited. Statistical analysis ofcustomer behavior can be performed. Because of the ability to narrowlytarget customers, manufacturers are more likely to provide increasedvalue special offers to customers, and this increases the likelihood ofacceptance as compared to an untargeted approach. In an untargetedsystem, a loyal customer of a certain brand may receive special offersfor the brand that the loyal customer would buy anyway. In applicant'ssystem, the loyal customer would only receive the special offer if themanufacturer so desires.

[0058] Various detailed flow charts are provided which illustrate logicemployed in one embodiment of the invention. This application isintended to cover broader aspects of the invention. The description ofthe flow charts is provided merely to better enable one of ordinaryskill in the art to implement the invention without undueexperimentation.

[0059] FIGS. 2-3 are flow charts illustrating store level 14 promotionalstaging. This staging operation is used to tell the system 10 whichproducts to discount. Category exclusivity is provided. Automaticincreasing of the value of special offers, if customers reject specialoffers is set up during the store level staging. Any of the computersystems (14, 20, or 16) containing the customer purchase history may beused to target recipients of a promotion. If targeting takes placeanywhere other than on a store level computer, either the list oftargeted customers is transmitted to each appropriate store levelcomputer, or the targeting process itself must be repeated at each storelevel computer. The staging of promotional products at the check-out 34takes place only at the store level computers that will support thepromotion.

[0060] A special status flag (stat) is used to indicate the status of aparticular promotion at a particular point in time. This status flagdetermines what action, if any, is to be taken for a given promotion. Inthe embodiment represented by FIGS. 2 and 3, the following meaning ofthe status flag values are used: Status Value Meaning 0 The promotion isstill in the configuration process, and is not to be staged or targeted.1 The promotion is fully defined, and will be staged at the check-out 34system when the promotion becomes effective. 2 The promotion has beenstaged at the check-out 34, and is now ready to be targeted to thehouseholds that qualify for the promotion. 3 The promotion is fullystaged; it may appear at the offer communicator 32 or the kiosks 26, andmay be discounted at the check-out 34. The promotion will normallyremain active until its expiration. 4 The promotion has expired, and hasbeen “de- staged” at the check-out 34 system. 5 The promotion is fullydecommissioned. 6 The promotion has been suspended. 7 The promotion hasbeen suspended. 8 The promotion is ready to be deleted from the computersystem.

[0061] At step 50 a promotion (special offer) is read from the database.If no more promotions exist, every promotion with a status of “2” willnow be targeted to the appropriate qualifying households (at step 52).

[0062] At step 54, a determination is made whether the special offer isexpired. If so, the system proceeds to step 56; if not, the systemproceeds to step 62.

[0063] At step 56, a determination is made whether the promotion wasfully active (“stat=3”). If not, the system proceeds to step 76; if so,the system proceeds to step 58.

[0064] At step 58, the next UPC value of the special offer is read, anda share builder flag (indicating that this is a special offer) is turnedoff at the check-out 34 at step 68. If no more UPCs exist for thepromotion, the system proceeds to step 60.

[0065] At step 59, a determination is made whether the promotioneffective date has been reached. If so, the system proceeds to step 62;if not, the system proceeds to step 50.

[0066] At step 60, the status flag is set to 4 and the system proceedsto step 76.

[0067] At step 62, a determination is made whether the promotion shouldbe staged at the check-out 34. If so, the system proceeds to step 64; ifnot, the system proceeds to step 70.

[0068] At step 64, the special offer is set up at the check-out 34 sothat the check-out 34 is given an indication that it should look up aspecial offer when a customer buys a product bearing this UPC symbol.

[0069] At step 66, a flag (“stat=2”) is set for the special offer. Afterperforming 66, the system proceeds to step 50 where the next specialoffer is read.

[0070] At step 70, the determination is made whether the promotion hasbeen set up (staged) at the check-out 34. If so, the system proceeds tostep 50, where the next promotion is read; if not, the system proceedsto step 72.

[0071] At step 72, the determination is made whether the promotion isfully active (it is staged at the check-out 34 and has been targeted toqualifying households). If so, the system proceeds to step 74; if not,the system proceeds to step 76.

[0072] At step 74, the special offer is set up at the check-out 34again, just in case the check-out 34 set-up was lost. After performingstep 74, the system proceeds to step 50, where the next promotion isread.

[0073] At step 76, a determination is made whether the promotion hasjust been de-staged at the check-out 34. If so, the system proceeds tostep 78; if not, the system proceeds to step 50.

[0074] At step 78, a flag (“stat=5”) is set for this special offer, toindicate that the promotion is now fully de-activated. After performingstep 78, the system proceeds to step 50.

[0075]FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a promotion set up at acheck-out register. When a special offer goes into effect, a flag issent to the check-out 34 that indicates that the product is potentiallydiscounted.

[0076] At step 80, the next UPC of the promotion is read, and at step82, a share builder flag (indicating that a special offer exists forthis UPC) is set at the check-out 34. The system then proceeds back tostep 80.

[0077]FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating identifying customersqualifying for special offers. At step 84, a promotion having the flag(“stat=2”) is read. At step 88, qualifying households for this specialoffer are identified according to the specifications of the promotion.At step 90, the special offer is inserted into the database of specialoffers available to each qualifying household. After performing step 90,the system proceeds to step 84 where the next status 2 special offer isread. After all “stat=2” special offers are read, the system proceeds tostep 86 where all these status 2 special offers are updated to status 3(“stat=3”).

[0078] FIGS. 6-10 are flow charts illustrating activity at a kiosk whicha customer uses to obtain a list of special offers. The kiosk supportsprice look-up, wherein the kiosk can be used to scan a product to checkthe price of the product. When a customer presents a card to the kiosk,a determination is made whether the customer is at the customer's homestore. If not, this customer can be added to the database for thisstore. Special offers are printed on a shopping list for the customer.The number of special offers printed is kept below a certain number.

[0079] At step 92, a welcome message is displayed at the kiosk 26. Afterperforming step 92, the system proceeds to step 94.

[0080] At step 94, a UPC is scanned by the card reader 28.

[0081] At step 96, a determination is made whether the UPC is a formalUPC. If so, the system proceeds to step 108; if not, the system proceedsto step 98.

[0082] At step 98, a determination is made whether this kiosk 26supports the possibility of looking up prices of products (instead ofonly reading the cards 22). If not, the system proceeds to step 100; ifso, the system proceeds to step 102.

[0083] At step 100, the kiosk 96 displays that the price look-up ofproducts is not supported. After performing step 100, the systemproceeds to step 92.

[0084] In step 102, a determination is made whether a UPC is on file forthe product presented to the kiosk 26. If so, the system proceeds tostep 106; if not, the system proceeds to step 104.

[0085] At step 104, the kiosk 26 displays that the UPC for this productis not on file. After performing step 104, the system proceeds to step92.

[0086] At step 106, the description and price of the product presentedto the kiosk 26 is displayed at the kiosk 26. After performing step 106,the system proceeds to step 92.

[0087] At step 108, a determination is made whether the card 22presented to the kiosk 26 is for this store. If so, the system proceedsto step 110; if not, the system proceeds to step 112.

[0088] At step 110, a determination is made whether this card number ison file. If so, the system proceeds to step 128; if not, the systemproceeds to step 114.

[0089] At step 114, a determination is made whether this store hasenabled automatic adding of card numbers. If so, the system proceeds tostep 116; if not, the system proceeds to step 118.

[0090] At step 116, the card number is added to the database as a newmember. After performing step 116, the system proceeds to step 128.

[0091] At step 118, the kiosk 26 displays that this card number is noton file. After performing step 118, the system proceeds to step 92.

[0092] At step 112, a visitor message is displayed indicating that thecustomer's offers are being retrieved from the customer's home store.After performing step 112, the system proceeds to step 120.

[0093] At step 120, cross-shopping requests are issued, where the storelevel computer 12 of this store communicates with the home store todetermine what special offers are available for this visitor. Afterperforming step 120, the system proceeds to step 122 where the systemwaits for a response. After waiting for a response, the system proceedsto step 124.

[0094] At step 124, a determination is made whether the cross-shoppingrequest was successful. If so, the system proceeds to step 128; if not,the system proceeds to step 126.

[0095] At step 126, the kiosk 26 displays or communicates that there areno offers available. After performing step 126, the system proceeds tostep 92.

[0096] At step 128, a determination is made whether the customer'soffers are available for shopping. If so, the system proceeds to step132; if not, the system proceeds to step 130.

[0097] At step 130, an error message is displayed at the kiosk 26,indicating the reason for the refusal to print the offer list. Afterperforming step 130, the system proceeds to step 92.

[0098] At step 132, a personalized welcome message is displayed at thekiosk 26. After performing step 132, the system proceeds to step 134.

[0099] At step 136, the next active special offer of this customer isread. After performing step 136, the system proceeds to step 138. If nomore offers are to be presented to this customer, the system proceeds tostep 92.

[0100] At step 138, household activity for the household correspondingto the card 22 which was presented to the kiosk 26 is looked up for thepromotion read at step 136. After performing step 138, the systemproceeds to step 140.

[0101] At step 140, a determination is made whether activity was foundfor this household and for this special offer. If so, the systemproceeds to step 142; if not, the system proceeds to step 146.

[0102] At step 142, a determination is made whether the purchasingactivity of the household is within the limits required for this specialoffer. If so, the system proceeds to step 148; if not, the systemproceeds to step 136.

[0103] At step 146, a determination is made whether the special offer isa targeted special offer. If so, the system proceeds to step 136; ifnot, the system proceeds to step 148.

[0104] At step 148, a determination is made whether the UPCs of thispromotion have not yet been placed into the POS (point of sale) supporttable for this customer's shopping trip (i.e., is this the customer'sfirst kiosk scan for this shopping trip?). If so (if this is the firstkiosk scan for this shopping trip), the system proceeds to step 150; ifnot, the system proceeds to step 152.

[0105] At step 150, the special offer UPC information is inserted into aPOS support table for the check-out 34, so that the store-level computer12 knows how much of a discount is to be applied at the check-out 34 ifthe customer meets the purchase requirements of this promotion. Afterperforming step 150, the system proceeds to step 152.

[0106] At step 152, this special offer is communicated to the customerby the offer communicator 32. After performing step 152, the systemproceeds to step 154.

[0107] At step 154, a determination is made whether the maximum numberof offers have been communicated to the customer at the offercommunicator 32. If so, the system proceeds to step 108; if not, thesystem proceeds to step 136.

[0108]FIGS. 9 and 10 are flow charts representing the activity thattakes place at the customer's home store level computer 12 when thecustomer scans the membership card 22 at the kiosk scanner 28 of a kiosk26 which is not located in the customer's home store.

[0109] At step 156, a determination is made whether the card number ison file. If so, the system proceeds to step 164; if not, the systemproceeds to step 158.

[0110] At step 158, a determination is made whether “Auto Add” is set(whether this store will allow card numbers to be automatically added toits database). If so, the system proceeds to step 160; if not, thesystem proceeds to step 162.

[0111] At step 160, this card number is added to the database. Afterperforming step 160, the system proceeds to step 164.

[0112] At step 162, the system returns a negative response to the storelevel computer 12 which made the request. This process is now complete.

[0113] At step 164, a determination is made whether the customer'soffers are available for shopping. If so, the system proceeds to step166; if not, the system proceeds to step 162.

[0114] At step 166, the next cross-shoppable active special offer isread. If no more special offers exist, the system proceeds to step 182.Otherwise, the system proceeds to step 168.

[0115] At step 168 household activity is read for this special offer.After performing step 168, the system proceeds to step 170.

[0116] At step 170, a determination is made whether household activitywas found for this special offer. If so, the system proceeds to step174; if not, the system proceeds to step 172.

[0117] At step 172, a determination is made whether the special offer isa targeted special offer. If so, the system proceeds to step 166; ifnot, the system proceeds to step 178.

[0118] At step 174, a determination is made whether the activity iswithin the limits established for this special offer. If so, the systemproceeds to step 178; if not, the system proceeds to step 176.

[0119] At step 176, a determination is made whether the special offer isnon-targeted. If so, the system proceeds to step 178; if not, the systemproceeds to step 166.

[0120] At step 178, information about this promotion and the householdactivity relating to this promotion are added to the cross-shoppingreply message (which will be sent back to the requesting computer instep 182). After performing step 178, the system proceeds to step 180.

[0121] At step 180, a determination is made whether the cross-shoppingresponse message is at its maximum size (e.g.: a predetermined number ofspecial offers). If so, the system proceeds to step 182; if not, thesystem proceeds to step 166.

[0122]FIG. 11 is a flow chart illustrating processing that takes placeat a store level computer when a check-out sends a message to the storelevel computer. When an item is scanned at the check-out, adetermination is made as to whether it is a card 22, or a product. If itis a card 22, a determination is made as to whether it was scanned at akiosk 26 (is offer status=I). If a product is scanned, a determinationis made whether the customer met purchase requirements in order to beeligible for a special offer.

[0123] At step 184, a message is received from a check-out 34. Afterperforming step 184, the system proceeds to step 186.

[0124] At step 186, a determination is made whether the item presentedto the check-out 34 is one of the cards 22. If so, the system proceedsto step 192; if not, the system proceeds to step 188.

[0125] At step 188, a determination is made whether the item presentedat the check-out 34 is a product. If so, the system proceeds to step194; if not, the system proceeds to step 190.

[0126] At step 190, a determination is made whether a check-outclose/resume message has been received indicating an end to thetransaction at the check-out 34. If so, the system proceeds to step 198;if not, the system proceeds to step 184.

[0127] At step 192, a determination is made whether the card number forthe card 22 presented to the check-out 34 is on file. If so, the systemproceeds to step 204; if not, the system proceeds to step 206.

[0128] At step 204, a determination is made whether the card 22 wasscanned at the kiosk 26. If so, the system proceeds to step 218; if not,the system proceeds to step 206.

[0129] At step 206, a negative response is returned indicating thatspecial offers are not available to this customer. After performing step206, the system proceeds to step 184.

[0130] At step 218, promotion information is read from the POS supporttable. After performing step 218, the system proceeds to step 226.

[0131] At step 226, the next discount due to this customer is determinedbased upon product UPC scans which preceded the card 22 scan. Afterperforming step 226, the system proceeds to step 234.

[0132] At step 234, a determination is made whether a discount wasfound. If so, the system proceeds to step 242; if not, the systemproceeds to step 235.

[0133] At step 242, the UPC and discount is returned. After performingstep 242, the system proceeds to step 226.

[0134] At step 235, the consumer offer status is set to “U”, preventingany other activity against this consumer's offers until the entirecheck-out is analyzed and accounted for (FIGS. 12-17). After performingstep 235, the system proceeds to step 236.

[0135] At step 236, a final response is returned to the check-out 34.After performing step 236, the system proceeds to step 184.

[0136] At step 194, a determination is made whether the customer's card22 has been scanned yet for this check-out. If so, the system proceedsto step 208; if not, the system proceeds to step 196.

[0137] At step 196, the UPC and quantity purchased is tallied. Afterperforming step 196, the system proceeds to step 184.

[0138] At step 208, the quantity purchased for this particular productis tallied. After performing step 208, the system proceeds to step 220.

[0139] At step 220, a determination is made whether a discount is duefor this product. If so, the system proceeds to step 228; if not, thesystem proceeds to step 230.

[0140] At step 228, a determination is made whether special offer limitshave been exceeded. If so, the system proceeds to step 230; if not, thesystem proceeds to step 238.

[0141] At step 238, the discount given is tallied. After performing step238, the system proceeds to step 244.

[0142] At step 244, the amount of the discount is returned to thecheck-out 34. After performing step 244, the system proceeds to step184.

[0143] At step 230, a zero discount is returned to the check-out 34.After performing step 230, the system proceeds to step 184.

[0144] At step 198, a determination is made whether the closing was anormal closing. If so, the system proceeds to step 200; if not, thesystem proceeds to step 210.

[0145] At step 200, a determination is made whether the card 22 wassuccessfully scanned at the check-out 34 as part of this check-out. Ifso, the system proceeds to step 202; if not, the system proceeds to step214.

[0146] At step 202, the consumer offer status is set to “U”. Afterperforming step 202, the system proceeds to step 214.

[0147] At step 214, tallies are reset. After performing 214, the systemproceeds to step 184.

[0148] At step 210, a determination is made whether the transaction wasvoided or canceled. If so, the system proceeds to step 212; if not, thesystem proceeds to step 222.

[0149] At step 212, a determination is made whether the card 22 wasscanned at the check-out 34 as part of this check-out. If so, the systemproceeds to step 216; if not, the system proceeds to step 224.

[0150] At step 216, the consumer's offer status is set back to “I”.After performing step 216, the system proceeds to step 224.

[0151] At step 224, tallies are reset. After performing step 224, thesystem proceeds to step 184.

[0152] At step 222, a determination is made whether the transaction wassuspended at the check-out 34. If so, the system proceeds to step 232;if not, the system proceeds to step 246.

[0153] At step 232, all information accrued for this check-out is movedinto suspense. After performing step 232, the system proceeds to step184.

[0154] At step 246, a determination is made whether the transaction hasbeen resumed at the check-out 34. If so, the system proceeds to step248; if not, the system proceeds to step 184.

[0155] At step 248, information accrued for this check-out is restoredfrom suspense. After performing step 248, the system proceeds to step184.

[0156] FIGS. 12-14 are flow chart illustrating transactional analysisthat takes place at a check-out (point of sale terminal). Adetermination is made whether a household has redeemed a special offerup to the maximum quantity for which the special offer was available. Ifso, the household will not see that special offer again unless themanufacturer reinstates it. After a check-out transaction is completed,and a sale is closed, the shopping history of the customer is updated,to reflect all purchases made by the customer. A determination can bemade as to whether the customer accepted a special offer, passed on thespecial offer (did not make a purchase of any product for the category),or rejected the special offer (purchased a competitor's product).

[0157] At step 250, a completed point-of-sale transaction is read fromthe check-out 34. After performing step 250, the system proceeds to step252.

[0158] At step 252, a database image is made of the point-of-saletransaction. After performing step 252, the system proceeds to step 254.

[0159] At step 254, a determination is made as to whether a card 22 wasscanned at the check-out 34. If so, the system proceeds to step 258; ifnot, the system proceeds to step 256.

[0160] At step 256, the transaction is marked as a home non-member (inother words, this customer did not scan a card 22 at the check-out 34).After performing step 256, the system proceeds to step 282.

[0161] At step 258, the determination is made whether the card 22 thatwas scanned is for this store. If so, the system proceeds to step 268;if not, the system proceeds to step 260.

[0162] At step 260, a determination is made as to whether the storenumber on the card is a known store number. If so, the system proceedsto step 262; if not, the system proceeds to step 264.

[0163] At step 264, the transaction is marked as a transaction for acard having an unknown home store. After performing 264, the systemproceeds to step 282.

[0164] At step 262, the transaction is marked as a transaction for avisitor from another home store. After performing step 262, the systemproceeds to step 266.

[0165] At step 266, a determination is made whether this card number ison file as a visitor who scanned his or her card 22 at a kiosk 26. Ifso, the system proceeds to step 278; if not, the system proceeds to step282.

[0166] At step 268, a determination is made whether this card number ison file as a home store customer. If so, the system proceeds to step276. If not, the system proceeds to step 270.

[0167] At 270, a determination is made as to whether automatic additionof card numbers is set for this store. If so, the system proceeds tostep 274; if not, the system proceeds to step 272.

[0168] At step 272, this transaction is marked as a transaction for ahome non-member (a customer possessing a card for this store, for whomno account has yet been set up). After performing step 272 the systemproceeds to step 282.

[0169] At step 274, the card number is added to the database. Afterperforming step 274, the system proceeds to step 276.

[0170] At step 276, the transaction is marked as a transaction for ahome member (a customer having this store as their home store). Afterperforming step 276, the system proceeds to step 278.

[0171] At step 278, a determination is made whether the customer scannedhis or her card 22 at both the kiosk 26 and at the check-out 34. If so,the system proceeds to step 280; if not, the system proceeds to step282.

[0172] At step 280, the transaction is marked as a share-buildertransaction (a transaction for which special offers may have beenredeemed or discounted at the check-out 34). After performing step 280,the system proceeds to step 282.

[0173] At step 282, database statistics are updated (see FIGS. 15-17).After performing step 282, the system proceeds to step 284.

[0174] At step 284, a determination is made as to whether this is ashare-builder transaction (see step 280 for the definition of a sharebuilder transaction). If so, the system proceeds to step 286; if not,the system proceeds to step 288.

[0175] At step 286, the customer offer status is set to “A”, to allowsubsequent activity against the customer's targeted offers. Afterperforming step 286, the system proceeds to step 288.

[0176] At step 288, a determination is made as to whether thetransaction type is a visitor transaction. If so, the system proceeds tostep 290; if not, this processing is completed.

[0177] At step 290, an image of the transaction is written to a “flat”file, to be sent to the customer's home store. After performing step290, this processing is completed.

[0178] FIGS. 15-17 are flow charts illustrating updating of databasestatistics for a single POS transaction received from either a check-out34 at this store or from another store (see step 290).

[0179] At step 292, the period number of this transaction is determined.After performing step 292, the system proceeds to step 294.

[0180] At step 294, daily activity statistics are updated based on thistransaction's type. After performing step 294, the system proceeds tostep 296.

[0181] At step 296, a determination is made whether the transaction isfor a customer whose home store is this store. If so, the systemproceeds to step 298; if not, the system proceeds to step 300.

[0182] At step 298, household-level life-to-date statistics are updatedfor this specific household, as identified by the card 22 scanned at thecheck-out 34. After performing step 298, the system proceeds to step300.

[0183] At step 300, period-based household-level statistics are updated.After performing step 300, the system proceeds to step 302.

[0184] At step 302, a determination is made as to whether thetransaction type is a remote transaction (a transaction sent to thisstore from another store, for a customer whose home store is thisstore). If so, the system proceeds to step 306; if not, the systemproceeds to step 304.

[0185] At step 304, store-level period-based category-related statisticsare updated. After performing step 304, the system proceeds to step 306.

[0186] At step 306, period-based household-level category-relatedstatistics are updated. After performing step 306, the system proceedsto step 308.

[0187] At step 308, a determination is made as to whether thetransaction type is a home member, or remote transaction type. If so,the system proceeds to step 310; if not, the system proceeds to step312.

[0188] At step 310, household-level statistics are updated. Afterperforming step 310, the system proceeds to step 312.

[0189] At step 312, a determination is made as to whether thetransaction type is a remote transaction type. If so, the systemproceeds to step 316; if not, the system proceeds to step 314.

[0190] At step 314, store-level period-based department-relatedstatistics are updated. After performing step 314, the system proceedsto step 316.

[0191] At step 316, period-based household-level department-relatedstatistics are updated. After performing step 316, the system proceedsto step 318.

[0192] At step 318, a determination is made as to whether thetransaction type is a remote transaction. If so, the system proceeds tostep 322; if not, the system proceeds to step 320.

[0193] At step 320, store-level period-based product-related statisticsare updated. After performing step 320, the system proceeds to step 322.

[0194] At step 322, period-based household-level product-relatedstatistics are updated. After performing step 322, the system proceedsto step 324.

[0195] At step 324, a determination is made as to whether thistransaction is a non-remote share-builder transaction. If so, the systemproceeds to step 326; if not, this processing is complete.

[0196] At step 326, promotional activity statistics are updated. Afterperforming step 326, the system proceeds to step 328.

[0197] At step 328, offer statistics are updated for either the homestore customer or for the visitor customer. After performing step 328,the system proceeds to step 330.

[0198] At step 330, information staged at a kiosk scan are deleted fromthe POS support table. After performing step 330, processing iscompleted.

[0199]FIG. 18 is a flow chart illustrating the file transfer of shoppingtrips for visitors from another home store back to their home store, forfurther analysis at that home store. Whether a customer scanned a card22 at a kiosk 26 or not, the purchasing history for the customer, or thehousehold, is updated if the customer shops at a store other than thecustomer's home store and scans the card 22 at a check-out 34 at that(remote) store.

[0200] At step 332, the next home store file is selected. Afterperforming step 332, the system proceeds to step 334.

[0201] At step 334, the home store network address is determined. Afterperforming step 334, the system proceeds to step 336.

[0202] At step 336, the file is transferred to the proper home store.After performing step 336, the system proceeds to step 332 where thenext home store file is selected.

[0203]FIG. 19 is a flow chart illustrating remote transaction analysis,or the analysis of shopping trips made at another store by customers ofthis home store.

[0204] At step 338, a remote transaction file is read. If no moreshopping trips are in the file, processing terminates. After performingstep 338, the system proceeds to step 340.

[0205] At step 340, a determination is made as to whether the cardnumber is on file. If so, the system proceeds to step 346; if not, thesystem proceeds to step 342.

[0206] At step 342, a determination is made as to whether automaticaddition of card number is permitted. If so, the system proceeds to step344; if not, the system proceeds to step 338.

[0207] At step 344, the card number is added to the database as a “newmember”. After performing step 344, the system proceeds to step 346.

[0208] At step 346, the transaction is stored in the database as aremote transaction shopping trip. After performing step 346, the systemproceeds to step 348.

[0209] At step 348, database statistics are updated (see FIGS. 15-17).After performing step 348, the system proceeds to step 338.

[0210]FIG. 20 is a flow chart illustrating deletion of expired specialoffers. Special offers are valid for a predetermined amount of timeafter a customer presents a card 22 to the kiosk 26. If the customerdoes not then present the card 22 to the check-out 34 within apredetermined amount of time, the special offers are canceled by thestore level computer 12.

[0211] At step 350, the next household or visitor household with theflag (“stat=I”) and offer expiration<now is read. If no more householdsmeet the criteria, processing terminates. After performing step 350, thesystem proceeds to step 352.

[0212] At step 352, information staged at a kiosk scan is deleted fromthe POS support table. After performing step 352, the system proceeds tostep 354.

[0213] At step 354, the customer offer status is set back to “A”. Afterperforming step 354, the system proceeds to step 350.

[0214]FIG. 21 is a block diagram illustrating hardware components andcabling that could be employed in a store employing NCR (trademark)check-outs 34. The store level computer 12 communicates with check-outs34 via a 2127 master 366. The store level computer 12 also communicateswith kiosks 26 via an asynchronous expansion board 364. The store levelcomputer 12 is connected to an ethernet network 356, and communicateswith a supervisory computer 16 via a router 358, a CSU/DSU 360 connectedto the router, and a DEMARK 362 connected to the CSU/DSU, the routerbeing connected to the ethernet network.

[0215]FIG. 22 is a block diagram illustrating hardware components andcabling that could be employed in a store employing IBM (trademark)check-outs. The store level computer 12 communicates with check-outs 34via a token ring store loop. The store level computer 12 alsocommunicates with kiosks 26 via an asynchronous expansion board 368. Thestore level computer 12 is connected to an MAU 370, and communicateswith a supervisory computer 16 via a router 372, a CSU/DSU 374 connectedto the router 372, and DEMARK 376 connected to the CSU/DSU, the router372 being connected to the MAU. The MAU 370 is connected to a 4680controller 372 and a front office of the store, and the MAU 370 isconnected to a 4680 controller 374 in the back office of the store. The4680 controller 374 is connected to the store loop 376, and thus to thecheck-outs 34.

[0216] In compliance with the statute, the invention has been describedin language more or less specific as to structural and methodicalfeatures. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is notlimited to the specific features shown and described, since the meansherein disclosed comprise preferred forms of putting the invention intoeffect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms ormodifications within the proper scope of the appended claimsappropriately interpreted in accordance with the doctrine ofequivalents.

1. A system for presenting customized special offers to customers, thespecial offers including targeted offers to a customer selected from aplurality of customers, and for collecting purchasing behaviorinformation concerning the customers, the system comprising: at leastone computer including a database containing customer accountinformation providing information specific to a particular customeraccount; said at least one computer also including a database containingspecial offers including at least one targeted offer which is to be madeto selected customer accounts on the basis of targeted offer targetingparameters; a plurality of customer cards, each customer card havingmachine readable card information indicating at least identification ofthe card with a particular customer account; a customer interface incommunication with said at least one computer to transfer datatherebetween; said customer interface having at least one card readerfor reading machine readable card information from said customer card;said at least one computer including means for generating a customizedcustomer offer list available to that particular customer account whichincludes at least one said special offer; at least one offercommunicator for communicating said customer offer list to the customerfor which it is generated; at least one check-out at which the customerpresents purchased item information indicating items being purchased bythe customer; said check-out including a card reader for reading saidcustomer card; said at least one computer including means for sendinginformation from the customized customer offer list to the at least onecheck-out; said at least one computer further including means forcollecting customer purchase information which is indicative of itemsbeing purchased by the customer via the check-out; said at least onecomputer still further including means for editing said customer accountinformation to reflect items purchased by the customer.
 2. A system inaccordance with claim 1 wherein the offer communicator comprises aprinter.
 3. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the card readerof said check-out comprises a bar code reader in communication with thecomputer, the bar code reader reading the cards in addition to products,the system including means for associating a purchased item with acustomer if one of the cards is scanned by the bar code reader insequence with scanning of products.
 4. A marketing system in accordancewith claim 1 wherein the check-out comprises means for totaling thecosts of purchases, wherein the system includes means for associating apurchased item with a customer if one of the cards is scanned by the barcode reader in sequence with scanning of products, and wherein thesystem includes means for adjusting the customer's total to reflectspecial offers accepted by the customer, and for suspending the acceptedspecial offers from the customer's offer list.
 5. A system in accordancewith claim 1 and further comprising means for recording that a specialoffer was not accepted by a customer if the customer does not present aproduct for which a special offer was available to the check-out withina predetermined amount of time after that customer accessed the customerinterface.
 6. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the specialoffers include broadcast, non-targeted, special offers which aregenerally available to all customers.
 7. A system in accordance withclaim 1 wherein the check-out includes a bar code reader, the systemfurther comprising means for downloading, from the computer to thecheck-out, a list of all products for which special offers exist for atleast one customer, means for associating a purchased item with acustomer if one of the cards is scanned by the bar code reader insequence with scanning of a product, means for accessing the computer inresponse to the bar code reader reading a product included in the listof all products for which special offers may be available and fordetermining the special offer available to that customer whose card wasscanned at the check-out, for that particular product.
 8. A system inaccordance with claim 1 and further comprising means for maintaining andfor communicating to each customer a running total of savings realizedby that customer since the customer started using the card.
 9. A systemin accordance with claim 1 and further comprising means for maintainingfor each customer a running total of savings realized by that customersince the customer started using the card, wherein the check-outcommunicates to each customer a running total of savings realized bythat customer since the customer started using the card.
 10. A system inaccordance with claim 1 and further comprising means for establishingtargeted offer targeting parameters in the form of criteria a customermust meet in order to be eligible for a particular targeted offer, andfor determining which customers in the customer account database meetthe criteria.
 11. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein thecustomer interface is spaced apart from the check-out.
 12. A system inaccordance with claim 1 and further comprising means for causing theoffer communicator to communicate a predetermined number of specialoffers available to a particular customer in response to the customerpresenting the customer's card to the customer interface, thepredetermined number being the same for all customers who use thecustomer interface.
 13. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein theoffer communicator comprises a printer, and wherein the system furthercomprises means for causing the printer to print a predetermined numberof special offers available to a particular customer absent anyselection by the customer accessing the customer interface, thepredetermined number being the same for all customers that use thecustomer interface.
 14. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein theoffer communicator comprises a printer, wherein the system furthercomprises means for sending to the printer a predetermined number ofspecial offers available to a particular customer in response to thecustomer causing the card reader of the customer interface to read thecustomer's card, wherein the predetermined number is the same for allcustomers who use the customer interface, and wherein the predeterminednumber of special offers are the highest value special offers availableto the particular customer.
 15. A system in accordance with claim 1wherein the offer communicator comprises a printer, wherein the systemfurther comprises means for sending to the printer a predeterminednumber of special offers available to a particular customer in responseto the customer causing the card reader of the customer interface toread the customer's card, wherein the predetermined number is the samefor all customers who use the customer interface, and wherein thepredetermined number of special offers are the highest value specialoffers available to the particular customer, calculated on the basis ofpercentage reduction in price.
 16. A system in accordance with claim 1and further comprising lottery means for randomly selecting customersfor prize awards, the lottery means including means for causing theoffer communicator to indicate to the customer the prize awarded.
 17. Asystem in accordance with claim 1 and comprising a plurality ofcomputers associated with a plurality of stores, wherein each customeris associated with one of the stores, wherein their card has machinereadable information indicating their home store, and wherein thecustomer account information for the customers are respectively storedin the computers of their home stores.
 18. A system in accordance withclaim 1 wherein the offer communicator comprises a printer capable ofprinting at least 500 lines per minute.
 19. A system in accordance withclaim 1 and further comprising means for preventing a special offer frombeing communicated by the offer communicator if the product associatedwith the special offer is out of stock.
 20. A system in accordance withclaim 1 and further comprising means defining a frequent shopper programincluding means for providing points to customers based on usage of thecustomer interface.
 21. A system in accordance with claim 1 and furthercomprising means for presetting a date and time on which a special offerwill automatically expire.
 22. A system in accordance with claim 1 andfurther comprising means for defining categories of products, and meansfor providing category exclusivity, wherein system only permits specialoffers for one brand of product per category.
 23. A system in accordancewith claim 1 and further comprising means for automatically increasingthe value of a special offer available to a customer for a product ifthe customer previously did not purchase that product after the offercommunicator communicated a discount for that product to the customer,and means for communicating the increased value special offer to thecustomer when the customer subsequently presents the customer's card tothe customer interface.
 24. A system in accordance with claim 1 andfurther comprising means for generating a report of the effectiveness ofspecial offers in causing customers to purchase products.
 25. A systemin accordance with claim 1 wherein said at least one computer comprisesa store level computer, a regional computer in communication with thestore level computer, and a supervisory computer in communication withthe regional computer, and wherein the customer account information islocated on at least one of the store level computer, the regionalcomputer, and the supervisory computer.
 26. A system in accordance withclaim 1 and further comprising means for limiting the total dollar valueof special offers for a particular product so that no more specialoffers are given for that product after a predetermined dollar value hasbeen exceeded.
 27. A system for presenting special offers to customersof a chain of stores, the special offers including customized targetedoffers for specific customers, the system comprising: a plurality ofstore level computers, respective store level computers being associatedwith respective stores, the computers respectively including a databasecontaining customer account information, and a database of specialoffers including customized targeted offers to be made to selectedcustomer accounts on the basis of targeted offer targeting parameters; asupervisory computer networked to the store level computers, thesupervisory computer periodically downloading special offers to thestore level computers; a plurality of cards, each card having thereonmachine readable information for associating the card with particularcustomer account information and with a particular store in the chain;and a plurality of customer interfaces, respective customer interfacesbeing located in respective stores and being in communication with thestore level computer associated with that store, the interfaces havingrespective card readers including means for receiving the cards, forreading the machine readable information on the card, for sendinginformation from the card to the store level computer associated withthat store; the store level computers respectively including means foraccessing information about the special offers available to the customerassociated with the card in response to the card reader sending decodedinformation to the computer, for generating a customized list of specialoffers available to that particular customer; offer communicator meansfor communicating respective individualized lists of special offers tocustomers who access the customer interface.
 28. A system in accordancewith claim 27 wherein the offer communicator means comprise printers.29. A system in accordance with claim 27 and further comprisingcheck-outs in respective stores, wherein the check-outs respectivelyincluding bar code readers, wherein the check-outs are in communicationwith respective store level computers, wherein the bar code readers readthe cards in addition to products, wherein the system includes means forassociating a purchased product with a customer account if one of thecards is scanned by the bar code reader in sequence with scanning ofproducts.
 30. A system in accordance with claim 27 and furthercomprising check-outs in respective stores, the check-outs respectivelyincluding bar code readers, the check-outs being in communication withrespective store level computers, wherein the check-out comprises meansfor totaling the costs of purchases, wherein the system includes meansfor associating a purchased item with a customer account if one of thecards is scanned by the bar code reader in sequence with scanning ofproducts, and wherein the system includes means for adjusting thecustomer's total to reflect special offers accepted by the customer, andfor deleting the accepted special offers from the customer's offer list.31. A system in accordance with claim 30 and further comprising meansfor recording that a special offer was not accepted by a customer if thecustomer does not present a product for which a special offer wasavailable to the check-out within a predetermined amount of time afterthat customer accessed the customer interface.
 32. A system inaccordance with claim 27 wherein the special offers include broadcast,non-targeted, special offers which are generally available to allcustomers.
 33. A system in accordance with claim 30 wherein the systemfurther comprising means for downloading, from the store level computersto the respective check-outs, a list of all products for which specialoffers exist for at least one customer, means for associating apurchased item with a customer account if one of the cards is scanned byone of the bar code readers in sequence with scanning of a product,means for accessing the store level computer in response to the bar codereader reading a product included in the list of all products for whichspecial offers may be available and for determining the special offeravailable to that customer whose card was scanned at the check-out, forthat particular product.
 34. A system in accordance with claim 27 andfurther comprising means for maintaining and for communicating to eachcustomer a running total of savings realized by that customer since thecustomer started using the card.
 35. A system in accordance with claim30 and further comprising means for maintaining for each customer arunning total of savings realized by that customer since the customerstarted using the card, wherein the check-out communicates to eachcustomer a running total of savings realized by that customer since thecustomer started using the card.
 36. A system in accordance with claim30 and further comprising means for establishing targeted offertargeting parameters in the form of criteria a customer must meet inorder to be eligible for a particular targeted offer, and fordetermining which customers in the customer account databases meet thecriteria.
 37. A system in accordance with claim 30 wherein the customerinterfaces are respectively spaced apart from the check-outs.
 38. Asystem in accordance with claim 30 and further comprising means forcausing one of the offer communicator means to print a predeterminednumber of special offers available to a particular customer in responseto the customer presenting the customer's card to one of the customerinterfaces, the predetermined number being the same for all customerswho use the customer interfaces.
 39. A system in accordance with claim30 wherein the offer communicator means comprise respective printers,and wherein the system further comprises means for causing one of theprinters to print a predetermined number of special offers available toa particular customer absent any selection by the customer accessing oneof the customer interfaces, the predetermined number being the same forall customers who use that customer interface.
 40. A system inaccordance with claim 27 wherein the offer communicator means compriserespective printers, wherein the system further comprises means forsending to one of the printers a predetermined number of special offersavailable to a particular customer in response to the customer causingthe card reader of one of the customer interfaces to read the customer'scard, wherein the predetermined number is the same for all customers whouse the customer interface, and wherein the predetermined number ofspecial offers are the highest value special offers available to theparticular customer.
 41. A system in accordance with claim 27 whereinthe offer communicator means comprise respective printers, wherein thesystem further comprises means for sending to one of the printers apredetermined number of special offers available to a particularcustomer in response to the customer causing the card reader of one ofthe customer interfaces to read the customer's card, wherein thepredetermined number is the same for all customers who use the customerinterface, and wherein the predetermined number of special offers arethe highest value special offers available to the particular customer,calculated on the basis of percentage reduction in price.
 42. A systemin accordance with claim 27 and further comprising lottery means forrandomly selecting customers for prize awards, the lottery meansincluding means for causing the offer communicator means to indicate tothe customer the prize awarded.
 43. A system in accordance with claim 27wherein the store level computers define home stores for customeraccounts such that each customer account has one home store, wherein thecards further include machine readable information indicating their homestore, and wherein the customer account information for the customersare respectively stored in the store level computers of their homestores.
 44. A system in accordance with claim 27 wherein the store levelcomputers define home stores for customer accounts such that eachcustomer account has one home store, wherein the cards further includemachine readable information indicating their home store, wherein thecustomer account information for the customers are respectively storedin the store level computers of their home stores, and wherein if acustomer uses their card at a customer interface in a store other thantheir home store, the store level computer communicates with thecustomers home store and the customer's account is accessed even thoughthe customer is not in their home store.
 45. A system in accordance withclaim 27 wherein the offer communicator means comprise respectiveprinters capable of printing at least 500 lines per minute.
 46. A systemin accordance with claim 27 and further comprising means for preventinga special offer from being communicated by the offer communicator meansif the product associated with the special offer is out of stock.
 47. Asystem in accordance with claim 27 and further comprising means defininga frequent shopper program including means for providing points tocustomers based on usage of the customer interface.
 48. A system inaccordance with claim 27 and further comprising means for presetting adate and time on which a special offer will automatically expire.
 49. Asystem in accordance with claim 27 and further comprising means fordefining, using the supervisory computer, categories of products, andmeans for providing category exclusivity, wherein the system onlypermits special offers for one brand of product per category.
 50. Asystem in accordance with claim 27 and further comprising means forautomatically increasing the value of a special offer available to acustomer for a product if the customer previously did not purchase thatproduct after one of the offer communicators communicated a discount forthat product to the customer, and means for communicating the increasedvalue special offer to the customer when the customer subsequentlypresents the customer's card to one of the customer interfaces.
 51. Asystem in accordance with claim 27 wherein the supervisor computerfurther comprises means for generating a report of the effectiveness ofspecial offers in causing customers to purchase products.
 52. A systemfor a chain of stores for presenting customized special offers tocustomers, the special offers including targeted offers to a customerselected from a plurality of customers, the system comprising: aplurality of store level computers, respective store level computersbeing associated with respective stores, the store computersrespectively including a database containing customer accountinformation providing information specific to individual customersincluding information regarding customer purchases, the store levelcomputers respectively including a database containing special offersincluding at least one targeted offer which is to be made to selectedcustomer accounts on the basis of targeted offer targeting parameters; aplurality of cards, each card having thereon machine readableinformation associating the card with a particular customer account andwith a particular store in the chain; regional computers networked togroups of store level computers, the regional computers periodicallydownloading special offers to the store level computers, groups of storelevel computers defining respective chains of stores; a supervisorycomputer networked to the regional computers, the regional computersperiodically downloading special offers to the store level computers; aplurality of customer interfaces, respective customer interfaces beinglocated in respective stores and being in communication with the storelevel computer associated with that store, the customer interfaceshaving respective card readers including means for receiving the cards,for reading the machine readable information on the cards, for sendingthe read information to the store level computer associated with thatstore; a plurality of offer communicator means, respective offercommunicator means being located in respective stores and being incommunication with the store level computer associated with that store,respective offer communicator means being housed with respectivecustomer interfaces; means for accessing customer account informationfor a particular customer in response to the card reader sending readinformation to a store level computer, for generating an individualizedlist of special offers available to that particular customer, and forsending the list of special offers to the offer communicator housed withthe card reader that sent the read information; the customer interfacesrespectively including means for communicating respective individualizedlists of special offers to customers who access the customer interfaces;check-outs, including respective bar code readers, connected torespective store level computers, the bar code readers reading the cardsin addition to products, the system including means for associating apurchased item with a customer account if one of the cards is scanned bythe bar code reader in sequence with scanning of products, for storingcustomer purchase information in the database in the store levelcomputer; and means for uploading from the store level computers to theregional computers data identifying purchases made by individualcustomers.
 53. A system in accordance with claim 52 wherein the offercommunicator means comprise printers.
 54. A system in accordance withclaim 52 wherein the check-outs respectively comprise means for totalingthe costs of purchases, and wherein the system includes means foradjusting the customer's total to reflect special offers accepted by thecustomer, and for deleting the accepted special offers from thecustomer's offer list.
 55. A system in accordance with claim 52 andfurther comprising means for recording that a special offer was notaccepted by a customer if the customer does not present a product forwhich a special offer was available to a check-out within apredetermined amount of time after that customer accessed a customerinterface.
 56. A system in accordance with claim 52 wherein the specialoffers include broadcast, non-targeted, special offers which aregenerally available to all customers of a chain.
 57. A system inaccordance with claim 52 wherein the system further comprising means fordownloading, from the store level computers to the respectivecheck-outs, a list of all products for which special offers exist for atleast one customer, means for accessing the store level computer inresponse to the bar code reader reading a product included in the listof all products for which special offers may be available and fordetermining the special offer available to that customer whose card wasscanned at the check-out, for that particular product.
 58. A system inaccordance with claim 52 and further comprising means for maintainingand for communicating to each customer a running total of savingsrealized by that customer since the customer started using the card. 59.A system in accordance with claim 52 and further comprising means formaintaining for each customer a running total of savings realized bythat customer since the customer started using the card, wherein thecheck-outs communicate to the customers a running total of savingsrealized by each customer since the customer started using the card. 60.A system in accordance with claim 52 and further comprising means forestablishing targeted offer targeting parameters in the form of criteriaa customer must meet in order to be eligible for a particular targetedoffer, and for determining which customers in the customer accountdatabases meet the criteria.
 61. A system in accordance with claim 52wherein the customer interfaces are respectively spaced apart from thecheck-outs in each store.
 62. A system in accordance with claim 52 andfurther comprising means for causing one of the offer communicator meansto print a predetermined number of special offers available to aparticular customer in response to the customer presenting thecustomer's card to one of the customer interfaces, the predeterminednumber being the same for all customers of a chain who use the customerinterfaces.
 63. A system in accordance with claim 52 wherein the offercommunicator means comprise respective printers, and wherein the systemfurther comprises means for causing one of the printers to print apredetermined number of special offers available to a particularcustomer absent any selection by the customer accessing one of thecustomer interfaces, the predetermined number being the same for allcustomers who use that customer interface.
 64. A system in accordancewith claim 52 wherein the offer communicator means comprise respectiveprinters, wherein the system further comprises means for sending to oneof the printers a predetermined number of special offers available to aparticular customer in response to the customer causing the card readerof one of the customer interfaces to read the customer's card, whereinthe predetermined number is the same for all customers who use thecustomer interface, and wherein the predetermined number of specialoffers are the highest value special offers available to the particularcustomer.
 65. A system in accordance with claim 52 wherein the offercommunicator means comprise respective printers, wherein the systemfurther comprises means for sending to one of the printers apredetermined number of special offers available to a particularcustomer in response to the customer causing the card reader of one ofthe customer interfaces to read the customer's card, wherein thepredetermined number is the same for all customers who use the customerinterface, and wherein the predetermined number of special offers arethe highest value special offers available to the particular customer,calculated on the basis of percentage reduction in price.
 66. A systemin accordance with claim 52 and further comprising lottery means forrandomly selecting customers for prize awards, the lottery meansincluding means for causing the offer communicator means to indicate tothe customer the prize awarded.
 67. A system in accordance with claim 52wherein the store level computers define home stores for customeraccounts such that each customer account has one home store, wherein thecards further include machine readable information indicating their homestore, and wherein the customer account information for the customersare respectively stored in the store level computers of their homestores.
 68. A system in accordance with claim 52 wherein the store levelcomputers define home stores for customer accounts such that eachcustomer account has one home store, wherein the cards further includemachine readable information indicating their home store, wherein thecustomer account information for the customers are respectively storedin the store level computers of their home stores, and wherein if acustomer uses their card at a customer interface in a store other thantheir home store, the store level computer communicates with thecustomers home store and the customer's account is accessed even thoughthe customer is not using the customer interface of their home store.69. A system in accordance with claim 52 wherein the offer communicatormeans comprise respective printers capable of printing at least 500lines per minute.
 70. A system in accordance with claim 52 wherein thestore level computers respectively include means for preventing aspecial offer from being communicated by the offer communicator means ifthe product associated with the special offer is out of stock.
 71. Asystem in accordance with claim 52 and further comprising means defininga frequent shopper program including means for providing points tocustomers based on usage of the customer interface.
 72. A system inaccordance with claim 52 and further comprising means for presetting adate and time on which a special offer will automatically expire.
 73. Asystem in accordance with claim 52 and further comprising means fordefining, using the supervisory computer, categories of products, andmeans for providing category exclusivity within a chain, wherein thesystem only permits special offers for one brand of product per categoryin that chain.
 74. A system in accordance with claim 52 and furthercomprising means for automatically increasing the value of a specialoffer available to a customer for a product if the customer previouslydid not purchase that product after one of the offer communicatorscommunicated a discount for that product to the customer, and means forcommunicating the increased value special offer to the customer when thecustomer subsequently presents the customer's card to one of thecustomer interfaces.
 75. A system in accordance with claim 52 whereinthe regional computer further comprises means for generating a reportfor a chain of the effectiveness of special offers in causing customersto purchase products.
 76. A method of presenting customized specialoffers to customers, the special offers including targeted offers to acustomer selected from a plurality of customers, and for collectingpurchasing behavior information concerning the customers, the methodcomprising the steps of: providing a computer; defining, using thecomputer, a database containing customer account information includingpurchases made by each customer; defining, using the computer, adatabase containing special offers including at least one targeted offerwhich is to be made to selected customer accounts on the basis oftargeted offer targeting parameters; providing cards to customers, thecards containing unique machine readable information identifyingcustomers; providing a customer interface including a card reader forreading the cards, and associating cards with customer accounts;generating a customized customer offer list available to a particularcustomer account which includes at least one said special offer inresponse to that customer accessing the customer interface; providing anoffer communicator for communicating said customer offer list to thecustomer for which it is generated; providing at least one check-out atwhich the customer presents purchased item information indicating itemsbeing purchased by the customer; the check-out including a bar codereader for reading said customer card and for reading prices ofproducts; sending information from the customized customer offer list tothe at least one check-out when a customer's card is scanned by thecheck-out card reader; and using the check-out and the computer tocollect customer purchase information which is indicative of itemspurchased by individual customers via the check-out and storing thecustomer purchase information in the customer account database.
 77. Amethod in accordance with claim 76 and further comprising the step ofassociating a purchased item with a customer account if one of the cardsis scanned by the bar code reader in sequence with scanning of productsand prior to totalling the cost of the customer's purchases.
 78. Amethod in accordance with claim 76 and further comprising the step ofadjusting the customer's total to reflect special offers accepted by thecustomer, and of deleting the accepted special offers from thecustomer's offer list.
 79. A method in accordance with claim 76 andfurther the step of recording that a special offer was not accepted by acustomer if the customer does not present a product for which a specialoffer was available to the check-out within a predetermined amount oftime after that customer accessed the customer interface.
 80. A methodin accordance with claim 76 wherein the special offers includebroadcast, non-targeted, special offers which are generally available toall customers.
 81. A method in accordance with claim 76 and furthercomprising the step of downloading, from the computer to the check-out,a list of all products for which special offers may exist for customers,associating a purchased item with a customer if one of the cards isscanned by the bar code reader in sequence with scanning of a product,accessing the computer in response to the bar code reader reading aproduct included in the list of all products for which special offersmay be available and determining the special offer available to thatcustomer whose card was scanned at the check-out, for that particularproduct.
 82. A method in accordance with claim 76 and further comprisingthe step of maintaining and communicating to each customer a runningtotal of savings realized by that customer since the customer startedusing the card.
 83. A method in accordance with claim 76 and furthercomprising the step of establishing targeted offer targeting parametersin the form of criteria a customer must meet in order to be eligible fora particular targeted offer, and of determining which customers in thecustomer account database meet the criteria.
 84. A method in accordancewith claim 76 and further comprising the step of communicating apredetermined number of special offers available to a particularcustomer in response to the customer causing the card reader of thecustomer interface to read the customer's card, wherein thepredetermined number is the same for all customers who use the customerinterface, and wherein the predetermined number of special offers arethe highest value special offers available to the particular customer,calculated on the basis of percentage reduction in price.
 85. A methodof presenting customized special offers to customers of a chain ofstores, the special offers including targeted offers to a customerselected from a plurality of customers, and for collecting purchasingbehavior information concerning the customers, the method comprising thesteps of: providing a plurality of store level computers, respectivestore level computers being associated with respective stores; providinga supervisory computer and networking the supervisory computer to thestore level computers, causing the supervisory computer to periodicallydownload special offers to the store level computers; defining, usingthe store level computers, respective databases containing customeraccount information including purchases made by each customer; defining,using the store level computers, respective databases containing specialoffers including at least one targeted offer which is to be made toselected customer accounts on the basis of targeted offer targetingparameters; providing cards to customers, the cards containing uniquemachine readable information associating the card with particularcustomer account information and with a particular store in the chain;providing a plurality of customer interfaces, respective customerinterfaces being located in respective stores and being in communicationwith the store level computer associated with that store, the customerinterfaces respectively including card readers for reading the machinereadable information on the cards, and causing the customer interfacesto send information from the card to the store level computer associatedwith that store when that customer interface reads a card; generating acustomized customer offer list available to a particular customeraccount which includes at least one said special offer in response tothat customer accessing one of the customer interfaces; providing aplurality of offer communicators, respective offer communicators beinglocated in respective stores and being in communication with the storelevel computer associated with that store, causing respective offercommunicators to communicating the customer offer list to the customerfor which the list is generated; providing a plurality of check-outs,respective check-outs being located in respective stores and being incommunication with the store level computer associated with that store,at which the customer presents purchased item information indicatingitems being purchased by the customer; the check-out including a barcode reader for reading said customer card and for reading prices ofproducts; sending information from the customized customer offer list toa check-out in a store when a customer's card is scanned by thecheck-out card reader in the same store; and using the check-outs andthe store level computers to collect customer purchase information whichis indicative of items purchased by individual customers via thecheck-out and storing customer purchase information in the customeraccount databases.
 86. A method in accordance with claim 85 , 94 andfurther comprising the step of associating a purchased item with acustomer account if one of the cards is scanned by the bar code readerin sequence with scanning of products and prior to totalling the cost ofthe customer's purchases.
 87. A method in accordance with claim 85 andfurther comprising the step of adjusting the customer's total to reflectspecial offers accepted by the customer, and of deleting the acceptedspecial offers from the customer's offer list.
 88. A method inaccordance with claim 85 and further the step of recording that aspecial offer was not accepted by a customer if the customer does notpresent a product, for which a special offer was available, to acheck-out in a store within a predetermined amount of time after thatcustomer accessed the customer interface in the same store.
 89. A methodin accordance with claim 85 wherein the special offers includebroadcast, non-targeted, special offers which are generally available toall customers.
 90. A method in accordance with claim 85 and furthercomprising the step of downloading, from a store level computer in astore to the check-out in the same store, a list of all products forwhich special offers may exist for customers, associating a purchaseditem with a customer if one of the cards is scanned by the bar codereader in sequence with scanning of a product, accessing the store levelcomputer associated with the store where the customer's card was scannedin response to the bar code reader reading a product included in thelist of all products for which special offers may be available anddetermining the special offer available to that customer whose card wasscanned at the check-out, for that particular product.
 91. A method inaccordance with claim 85 and further comprising the step of maintainingand communicating to each customer a running total of savings realizedby that customer since the customer started using the card.
 92. A methodin accordance with claim 85 and further comprising the step of using thesupervisory computer to establish targeted offer targeting parameters inthe form of criteria a customer must meet in order to be eligible for aparticular targeted offer, and of determining which customers in thecustomer account database meet the criteria.
 93. A method in accordancewith claim 85 and further comprising the step of communicating apredetermined number of special offers available to a particularcustomer in response to the customer causing one of the card readers toread the customer's card, wherein the predetermined number is the samefor all customers of the chain, and wherein the predetermined number ofspecial offers include the highest value special offers available to theparticular customer, calculated on the basis of percentage reduction inprice.
 94. A method of presenting customized special offers to customersof a chain of stores, the special offers including targeted offers to acustomer selected from a plurality of customers, and for collectingpurchasing behavior information concerning the customers, the methodcomprising the steps of: providing a plurality of store level computers,respective store level computers being associated with respectivestores; providing a plurality of regional computers networked to groupsof store level computers, the regional computers periodicallydownloading special offers to the store level computers, groups of storelevel computers defining respective chains of stores; providing asupervisory computer and networking the supervisory computer to theregional computers, causing the supervisory computer to periodicallydownload special offers to the store level computers; defining, usingthe store level computers, respective databases containing customeraccount information including purchases made by each customer; defining,using the store level computers, respective databases containing specialoffers including at least one targeted offer which is to be made toselected customer accounts on the basis of targeted offer targetingparameters; providing cards to customers, the cards containing uniquemachine readable information associating the card with particularcustomer account information and with a particular store in the chain;providing a plurality of customer interfaces, respective customerinterfaces being located in respective stores and being in communicationwith the store level computer associated with that store, the customerinterfaces respectively including card readers for reading the machinereadable information on the cards, and causing the customer interfacesto send information from the card to the store level computer associatedwith that store when that customer interface reads a card; generating acustomized customer offer list available to a particular customeraccount which includes at least one said special offer in response tothat customer accessing one of the customer interfaces; providing aplurality of offer communicators, respective offer communicators beinglocated in respective stores and being in communication with the storelevel computer associated with that store, causing respective offercommunicators to communicating the customer offer list to the customerfor which the list is generated; providing a plurality of check-outs,respective check-outs being located in respective stores and being incommunication with the store level computer associated with that store,at which the customer presents purchased item information indicatingitems being purchased by the customer; the check-out including a barcode reader for reading said customer card and for reading prices ofproducts; sending information from the customized customer offer list toa check-out in a store when a customer's card is scanned by thecheck-out card reader in the same store; using the check-outs and thestore level computers to collect customer purchase information which isindicative of items purchased by individual customers via the check-outand storing customer purchase information in the customer accountdatabases; and uploading from the store level computers to the regionalcomputers data identifying purchases made by individual customers.
 95. Amethod in accordance with claim 94 and further comprising the step ofassociating a purchased item with a customer account if one of the cardsis scanned by the bar code reader in sequence with scanning of productsand prior to totalling the cost of the customer's purchases.
 96. Amethod in accordance with claim 94 and further comprising the step ofadjusting the customer's total to reflect special offers accepted by thecustomer, and of deleting the accepted special offers from thecustomer's offer list.
 97. A method in accordance with claim 94 andfurther the step of recording that a special offer was not accepted by acustomer if the customer does not present a product, for which a specialoffer was available, to a check-out in a store within a predeterminedamount of time after that customer accessed the customer interface inthe same store.
 98. A method in accordance with claim 94 wherein thespecial offers include broadcast, non-targeted, special offers which aregenerally available to all customers.
 99. A method in accordance withclaim 94 and further comprising the step of downloading, from a storelevel computer in a store to the check-out in the same store, a list ofall products for which special offers may exist for customers,associating a purchased item with a customer if one of the cards isscanned by the bar code reader in sequence with scanning of a product,accessing the store level computer associated with the store where thecustomer's card was scanned in response to the bar code reader reading aproduct included in the list of all products for which special offersmay be available and determining the special offer available to thatcustomer whose card was scanned at the check-out, for that particularproduct.
 100. A method in accordance with claim 94 and furthercomprising the step of using the supervisory computer to establishtargeted offer targeting parameters in the form of criteria a customermust meet in order to be eligible for a particular targeted offer, andof determining which customers in the customer account database meet thecriteria.
 101. A method in accordance with claim 94 and furthercomprising the step of communicating a predetermined number of specialoffers available to a particular customer in response to the customercausing one of the card readers to read the customer's card, wherein thepredetermined number is the same for all customers of the chain, andwherein the predetermined number of special offers include the highestvalue special offers available to the particular customer, calculated onthe basis of percentage reduction in price.